Manufacture of incandescent electric lamps



Feb 8 J. J. HIGGINS y MANUFACTURE OF INCANDSCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS Filed Sept. 26, 1922 rnlfIlI-Ilrnll'.

INVENTOR JOHN d H/ qqM/.s

AHQRNEYL l ing operation.

Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

' UNITED JOHN JOSEP'H IGGINS; 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Applieamn 'mea september 2e, 1922. serial No. 590,591.

This invention relates to machines for manufacturing incandescent electric' lamps and relates more particularly to machines for sealing lamp mounts to bulbs.,

An objectI of the invention is to provide an improved head for use with sealing-in machines iny which a lamp mountand bulb may be united in a convenient and e/xpedi-` tiousfmanner.

Another object is to automatically -discharge cullets from thev head afterthe seal- A further object is to rovide coordinating machine elements which will automatically d'ust a lamp bulb and mount in a given relation and secure andl subsequently discharge ,the cullet after the sealmg-ml operation. 4

Other objects will be apparent from the VAfollowing description.

Machines for sealing mounts to bulbs are well known in the art, a preferred commerv cial machine being Vvof the planetary type 'which comprises a rotatable carrier or conveyor` upon which are mounted rotatably, a plurality of sealing-in heads. The Vheads employed in these machines usually have a means for supportinga bulb and other means for securing and holding a lamp mount which mount includes such parts of the lamp as subsequently'constitute its internal structure.

In the manufacture of tipless lamps, th mount includes an exhaust tube which projects from'the lamp after the sealing-in operation and provides a communicating passage whereby 'the bulb ma be exhausted.

When 'i bulb and mount have been properly disposed in a head, the head is carried to a position for the application of heat which is supplied b means of fires, termed forming fires, whic heat a portion of the bulb adjacent to the flare on the mount. At the same time, ladownwardly acting force is applied to the lower end of the neck of the bulb, thus eifecting an elongation of the plasticl portiony to bring the sides thereof in contact withthe edge of the l flare to effecta seal between the mount and the bulb, after which, cutting off fires sever the cullet from the Sealed-in lamp. Before the bulb is removed from the machine and while the seal' isstill in a plastic state, the mount is pulled down a shght amount' to. produce a stretching and thinning of the glass at the seal for the purpose of avoiding certain strains which may otherwise be caused during subsequent changes in temperature.

.In many machines heretofore employed, the cullet usually4 remains attached to some portion of the head, and is often left hang- 1ng upon the mount support. It is then necessary for the `operatorto either liftthe cullet overthe upper end of the mount support or to break the cullet and thus remove it.

Furthermore, heads as heretofore constructed have required the manipulation of one or more levers to operate jaws for gripping the bulb, and the supporting structure for such jaws has been disposed on at least two sides of the head, This necessitated the exercise of a certain amount of caution on` the part ofthe operator to avoid personal contact with these parts when assembling the bulb and mount. It Will be readil ciated that f the speed of assemb ing the mount and bulb was thereby retarded, since the structure about the lamp becomes extremely hot and interferes with the movement of the operator. i

The above disadvantages are yovercome in appl'ei the present invention which `provides a means for gripping anddischarging a cullet. The gripplng means are of'such construction that. the cullet may be gripped by jaws end in contact with a cam surface and provided with a chuck or mount-holder at its upper end lto receive and secure an exhaust tube of a lamp mount. vA suitable bulbwithout any manipulation of levers by the ulb in proper relation to a mount when secured in the chuck.

Spring-actuated jaws are providedto receive-the lower end of a bulb which is subsequently separated from .lt-he'sealed-in' lam and becomes the cullet or surplus materia which must be discharged `from .the fhead. 'These jaws automatically snap over thelower edge of the bulb-neck when'a slight. pressure is lexterted thereon and they may operate ,to grip the neck to aid in maintainlng the bulb iny a given position during the sealing-in operationl- After the sealed-in lamp, .consisting of a bulb, and mount consolidated therewith, is removed, the cullet remains secured by the jaws. The head may then be moved b the usual conveyor, and certain machine elements operate tol lower the. mount support and release the jaws to discharge the cullet, which ma then be carried away Vby any suitable gui e or chute.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the drawing in which; Fig. -1- is a front view, in elevation, of my improved head, partly in section;

ig.,2 is a side view, in elevation, of the head, partly in section;

' Fig. .3 is an enlarged plan view of the jaws for securing the cullet, the portion in section being 'taken on line III-III in 2; ig. 4 is a front elevation of the jaws shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2; and, Fig. 6 is a dia rammatic representation of the relation of t e contacting parts ofthe stem head and the cam surface which oper# ates certain Ielements of the head.

As illustrated, my head may include a' central spindle 10 movable vertically within a sleeve 11 and having its lower end nor.- mally engaged by thesurface of a cam 12. The upper end of the s indle 10 is provided with a collar 13, suitaglyfatta'ched thereto. Extending upwardly and fastened to this collar, is a tubular member 14 provided with av plurality of apertures 15 (preferably three) disposed circumferentially in the wall thereof and positioned in -a common hori-` Y zontal plane.

In each of the apertures 15 is dis osed a spherical member or ball 16. Other alls 17 are disposed inA apertures 18 disposed similarly to the apertures 15 but in a hi her plane. The balls 16 and 17 are adapte -to .engage and secure an object, such 'as' the exhaust tube 19. of a mount, when the same is inserted, as shown in dotted lines, into thev member 14. The balls are normally urged toward the axial line of the member 14, by reason ofl their contact with an inner tapered surface 20 of a thimble or cap 21, which may be normally free to descend to make contact a cullet.

with and lmove the balls 16 and 17. The

apertures in which the balls are disposedare slightly less diameter-.than the diameter of the balls; therefore, the balls are prevented from' passing entirely-into thetubular member 14.

Although .the above describedfmeans for securing an exhaust tube of a mount has been found preferable, it is to be understood that any suit-able form of chuck may be employed.

'.Ihe-.sleeve 11 ismovable vertically in a bushing 22 which is rotatably disposed in l'a hub 23 'of a conve or 24. The'bushing 22 is secured against vownward movement vby a collar 25 which istightly fitted to the upper end thereof. The lower end .of the bushing has securedthereto a driving pulley or sheave 26 which may be rotated by means v of a beltjconnection with driving mechanism of any suitable type..v Such mechanism is well known and, therefore, not shown inthe drawing.

A ball bearing 27 may be disposed between the "upper end of the hub 23 `and the collar 25 to reduce friction. The collar 25 is provided with an arm which terminates in a support 28 in which a tubular. upright 29 is secured.' Movably positionedwithin the upright 29 is a plunger 'or support rod 30, the upper end of which is secured 'to an extension or counter balance portion 32'of a bulb-support 33; thus, the bulb-support is moj'ablev with the-rod 30. The bulb-supportA F'g. 5 is a View taken on line V--V'of preferablg'consists of a plurality of suitably positione arms 34, 'the ends of'whch provide a plurality of surfaces for seating a ,j

bulb 40 whenI placed within the support.

The upper portion of the bulb is` thus adjusted and retained, and the lower portion of the bulb maybe gripped bya pair-of jaws 35 and 36 carried on arms 37 and 38,- The arms 37 and 38 are pivoted on pins 39' and 41 which are suitably fastened in' projections 42 and 43 integral with a collar 44, connected to the tubular member 29. Thejaws 35 and 36 are provided with suitable offset bearings 45 and are pivoted. to lugs 46, in-

tegralwith arms 37 and 38, by pintles 47.

Suitable springs 48 are provided to urge thc ,s jaws-toward the vertical axis of the head.

The jaws 3 5 and 36 are adapted to be separated by the insertionr of an endor the neck of "a bulb randto then grip vthe neck until it is automatically removed.

tained 'in given positions by means of springs 49 and 51 which have corresponding ends in The arms 37 and 38 are normally mains` An opening ofthe jaws is eiected by a positive means which ma comprise a sha ed wedge-member 54 w ich issecured to a s idable collar 55 movable longitudinally of the upright 29 and retained from rotary movement .by a feather 56 secured in the upright. The wedge-member or spreader 54 is normally positioned'above beveledI edges 57 of the arms 37 and 38 s o that a downward movement of the member 54 will cause a separation of the arms. The spreader is, however, lnormally held above the arms by a spring 58 disposed betweenl the collar 55 and the collai` 44. The spring 58 acts normally to force the collar 55 upwardly against a stop plate 59 which is secured to the upper end of the upright 29. Thus,the spreader is adapted for 'vertical movement but is normally held in a given position above the arms 37 and 38.

The rod 30 is provided with a transverse pinv 60 whichprojectsv from opposite sides of the lrod and., when it is moved downwardly, the pin 60 passes through slots 61 in the plate 59 and slots 62 in the upright 29 and makes Contact with the collar 55. A downward movement ofl the spreader may thus be caused to eiect separation of the arms 37 and 38 and thus remove the jaws 35 and 36 from engagement with a cullet. The rod 30 is reciprocated with each reciprocation of the sleeve 11, being connected theretoby means of a bracket 63, to which the rod 30' is secured by pin 64, the pin being'movable in a slot 65 in the upright 29.

The bracket 63, secured to the upper end of the sleeve 11, is provided with a. set screw 66,'one end of which is disposed in a slot '67 provided in the shaft 10, thus preventing relative rotary movement of the shaft and permitting a slight vertical 'movement thereoffwithin the sleeve 11. 'Aftera mount and a bulb have been .positioned in the head,`the head may be rotated, by'the `coni`fe'yori24, to a position'at which a ,heat zone' is 'created by suitable" Iforming fires"68,"indicatedin dottedY lines, which soften the bulb to a given degree.` The head may Ithen moveto .another'statiom during which time itV reaches an ascending portion of vthe cam 12,k 'hereinafter mo're fully. des'cribed, whichoperates toraise` the spindle 1()` and the sleeve '11, therebyy raising'the bulb" and mount. The jaws, however, rse-C'y main stationary and, vsincev the: jaws grip the lower endA ofthe bulb, Vthel bulb stretched andl contact is made betweenth'e' sides thereof 'andlthe aredportion of the mount to produceaunionbetween the mount and the bulb. To release the exhaust tube, secured by theeballs 16 and 17 ,4' a slight downward move-v mentbf the rod 10* is produced. ivThis isI accomplished, during .the rotaryu movement of the head with the conveyor,"by means of suitable undulations in the surface Aof. the- V track 12 which may havea descending slot to lpermit a drop of the spindle 10. The sleeve, however, 'mayI be maintained in its given position by Contact with the surface 12 at the sides of the' slot.

The initialv downward movement of the spindle 10 may' efecta downward movement of the mount Awithin the bulb immediately after the sealing operation is performed and `while the material is still in a plastic condition. This slight ydownward movement 1s termed the pull-down and'maybe 'of any desired length. A more detailed4 description of the cam 12 and its cooperative relation to the sealing-in head will be given below. 4

It will be noted that, as the spindle moves downwardly, the distance of the pull-down is governed by the distance between the lower end of the cap 21 and the upper surface of the arm 63. Thus, when the spindle 10 moves downwardly and the cap engages the arm 63, the movement, of the cap is terminated, and a slight continuation yof movement'of the lspindle causes the balls to release the exhaust tube 19, thus leaving the bulb free for removal by an operator. After a mount has been sealed to a bulb, the cullet is` however, still secured between the jaws 35 and 36 and, as the conveyor is advanced v the sleeve 11 and spindle 10v move fromvcontact with the cam surface and descend as hereinafter-more fully described. Thus, the rod 30 and the bulb-support`33 are moved downwardly, as well as the mount holder, and the pin 60 engages the collar 55 to cause thespreader 54 to separate the arms 37 and 38 and release .the cullet from between the jaws 35 'and 3,6. For the purpose of positively ,effecting a removal of the 'cullet and to., prevent its direct downward movement, a pair of' def-lector members or fingers 71,y are v'provided inthe form of vertical rods having offset portions disposed in the normal downward :path of the cullet, The rods are positioned lunsuitable apertures in the arms37 and 38 andinay `be adjusted 'by means of set screws72. After the cullet has been removed, rthe mount holder and bulbA The camfsurf'aces may 'be so disposed that,

when the head takes a given position during its' @Ourse '0f travel Wththe Ceflvi'er; Pili 74 engages the'c'am and terminates-the rotation'ofthe head, at which ftimethe pul- 1ey'"26"may` be removed from the driving means or maybe so connected thereto by a loose belt thatthe belt will slip and not be effective during certain periods throughout the movement of the conveyor.

Since mechanism for performing the operation just mentioned, is well known, it is believed that further description is unnecessary. -It'is also obvious that, if desirable, the spindle 10 may be hollow and, at given stations throughout itstravel over the sur-` face of the cam 12, may be disposed in communication with a suitable passage way through which air-may be forced upwardly through thevspindle and through'the chuck to supply air jets to the lower end of the, flare tube during the sealing-in operation. This is also well known in the art, and therefore, need not be further described.

The operation of the head will be more fully understood from the following general description, taken in connection with Fig. 6

which shows a diagrammatic representation of the cam surface 12 and the several undulations of the surface thereof for operating the spindle 1() andthe sleeve 11.

At the first or loading station, the cam 12 is provided with a slot into which the spindle 10 may drop.` The sleeve 11 is,

however, maintained in its. normal 'position by reason of its contact with 'the upper. surface 76 of the cam 12. The lowered position of the spindle 10 will cansethe cap 21 of the mount holder to engage the upper surface of the arm 63 and thereby open thel chuck for the admission of an exhaust tube.

Assuming that the conveyor carries the head in the direction of the arrow A, it

will be understood that, as the head moves to the next station, the spindle 10 vrides up the surface of the slot 75 until it travels4 along the upper surface 76 of the cam 12, at

which time'the cap 21 will be lifted, and theballs 16 and 17 of the chuck will make contact with thc'inner surface of the cap 'and engage the exhaust tube to secure a mount in positionon the holder. A bulb may then be placed over the mount@ and seated in the bulb-support member 33. Theconveyor is then permitted to rotate to subject the bulb to the forming fires which are located at suitable stations tlutougliout the pathv of movement of the head. l As the head ,approaches the next-to-thelast station, an ascending portion 77 of the cam 12 causes an upward movement of the spindle 10 and the sleeve 11,with a c011-4 sequent elongation and reductionin ,dialneter of the portion of the bulbwhi-ch vhas been vheated to seal it to the mount, and suitable. cutting-off. fires subsequently opera-te to sever the lower end or cullet from' the bulb. AThe head may then be moved until the spindle 10 enters a1 slot 78 in the cam 12;thereby releasing the exhaust tubeV from the chuck. A continuedmovement of the conveyor then .brings the, spindle 10 and and 38, with a consequent discharge of the cullet. As the conveyor. is then moved, the

`spindle 10 and the sleeve 11 again move upwardly, by reason of their contactwith an ascending surface 7 9 of the'cam 12; andthe bulb-support, and the mount holder again takes the position -indicated for the first or loading stage."

From the foregoing it will readily be appreciated that a semi-'automatic sealing-in head is provided in which all the operating elements are so disposed as to be in the'rear of the work parts andremoved from interference vwith the movements of the operator when assembling or removing `the work parts. In this improved vhead, ity is not necessary for the operator 'to handle or manipulate any levers or other controlling mechanism in the vicinity of the head itself, thereby avoiding the possibility of personalcontact with a heated projecting structure.l l

Although I have shown only a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is'obvious that modifications may be made therein t without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is: 4 Ahead for a sealing-in machine comprising a bulb support, a mount support, pivoted'jaws for gripping acullet,means for changing the relative positions of'sa'id jaws and said supports and means for automatically opening said jaws. j

2. A sealing-in head comprising a bulbsupporting member, a mount-supporting member, oscillatory jaws for securing the lower portion of said bulb, means for severing said lower portion from said bulb and means for automatically discharging said severed portion.

.13. A sealing-1n head'comp'rising a bulb- `support a mount-support, oscillatory jaws for gripping vthe lower end of a bulb', positioned in said bulb-support, means for heatingsaid; bulb, means for changing the relative posltlons of said bulb-support and said jaws to elongate said bulb.

4. Ar sealing-in head comprising a bulbsupport, a mount support, means for4 gripping thelower ,end of a bulb positioned in said bulb-support, means for locally heating said bulb, means for changing the relative positions of said bulb-support and said gripping meansto elongate said bulb, means for rtv Y end from said head.

entlypivoted jaws', means for locally heatj ing a bulb disposed in said bulb-support, means for 'changing the' relative positins of said member and saidsupports to elongate said bulb, means for severing the cullet from said bulb and means for automatically separating said jaws to release a cullet.

6. A sealing-in head comprising a bulb-- support, a mount-support and -a cullet-gripping member comprisingl a pair of ljaws, means for locally heating -a bulb disposed in said bulb-support, means `for changing the relative positions of said supports and said member to elongate said'bulb, means for severing the cullet from said bulb and means for actuating said jaws to discharge said cullet.

7. A sealing-in lhead comprising a bulbsupport, a mountsupport and a pair ofcul- .let-gripping jaws, means for locally heating a bulb disposed' in said bulb-support, means` for sealing said bulb to a mount in said mount-support, means for changing the position of saidmount with respect to said bulb, means for severing the cullet portion of' said bulb' and means for discharging said cullet.

v A head for a sealing-in machine comprlsing a bulb-support, amount-support and a pair 1of oscillatory arms, movable jaws carried on said arms for gripping the end of a bulb means for severing the end from the bulb and means for automatically operating said 'arms to release said end from said jaws.

9. 'A head for a sealing-in machine comprising a bulb-support, a mount-support and a pair of oscillatory arms provided with jaws. for gripping an end cfa bulb, means for severing said' end .from said bulb and means for automatically discharging said 10. A head for a sealing-1n machine comprising a bulb-support, a mount-supplort, a. atory pair of movable jaws mounted en scl armsfor gripping an end 'of a bulb tloned in sail ul support, means for tingsaid bulb,mea`ns for changingthe relativeA 'tions of said jaws and said supports 4to -e ect4 a seal between amount in' said mount-sup ort arid' said bulb, means `for i severing 9 said'severed e t e -lowerlendof said bulb and r operatingsaid jaws discharge A head for a sealing-in machine comprislng a bulb-support,- amount-supI ort, a

pair of oscillatory arms provided wit jaws. for gripping the end cfa bulb. positioned in said bulb-supportm'eans for .locally heating the bulb, means for changing the relative positions of -said supports and said jaws to seal said bulb to a mount in said mount-support, means for severing-the lower .portionv i of' saidl bulb, means for changing the relative positions of said mount and said bulb .and means for automatically. operating said 'aws to ldischarge said severed portion. i

.prising -a bulb support,.`a mount support to hold a mount on the axial line of a bulb posi- 12. A head for a sealing-in machine com?V tioned in said support, means for gripping an end of a positioned bulb, means for locally heating the bulb, automatic means for causing a relative movement between 4said bulb support and said gripping means, means. for severing the cullet from the bulb and means for automatically discharging the cullet.

13. A head for a sealing-in machine comprising abulb-support, a pair of oscillatory arms provided with jaws for gripping an end oi a 4bulb positioned in. said support,

means fr'loeally heating said bulb, means .for 'raislng said support to felon ate said bulb, means for severing said end lom said bulb, means for 'actuating saidjaws to release said end and means for-deilecting said end`from its-normal path of movement; 14. A head for a sealing-inmachine comprising a bulb-support, a mount-su port 'and .a' pair of oscillatory arms provided with jaws, means'for gripping theneck of a bulb positioned in said support, means forv locally heating said bulb to vseal a mount thereto,

means for severing the cullet from said bulb,

means for changing the position of said mount with res ect to-said bulb and means for vautomatical y discharging said cullet.

1 5. A head for a .sealingin machine comprising a bulb-su port, a mount-support and a pair of jaws or gripping the neck of a bulb positioned in said bulb-support, means for locally heating the bulb, means for movin said bulbsupport upwardly to elongate said bulb and cause va union between the walls thereof and a mount positioned in said mount-support, means for severing saidlneck `4 of the bulb, mean's for-moving-said/mountsupport downwardly with respect to the bulb and means 4for discharging the severed neck.

16. Ahead for a sealing-in' machine comprising a bulb-support, a mount-support and a air of jaws for gripping the neck of a bu b positionedin said bulb-support, means for locally heating the bulb, means for moving the bulb-support downwardly to elongate the .heated portlon of the bulb, means for severing the cullet from the bulb and means for changing the relative position' of said bulb and a mount positioned in said mountsupport to relieve strains at'fthe seal between said-bulb and said mount.

-prising a bulb-su port, a 'mount-support and yum bulb positioned in said bulb-support, means for locally heating the bulb, means 01' moving the bulb-support downwardly to elongate the heated portion 4of the bulb, means 5 for severing the cullet from the bulb, means for changing the relative osition of said bulb and a mount positione in said mountsup' lort to relieve strains at the seal between lsai bulb and said mount and means `forautomatically discharging the cullet. I

In testimony whereof,- I have hereunto subscribed my 'name .this twenty-fifth day of September, 1922.

JOHN JOSEPH'HIGGINS. 

